CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - March 20, 2008

This is the Cape May Birding Hotline, a service of New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory. This week's message was prepared on Thursday, March 20, 2008. Highlights this week include sightings of BARNACLE GOOSE, EURASIAN WIGEON, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 'EURASIAN' GREEN-WINGED TEAL, CANVASBACK, COMMON EIDER, RED-NECKED GREBE, NORTHERN GANNET, SNOWY EGRET, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, SHORT-EARED OWL, PURPLE MARTIN, BARN SWALLOW, NASHVILLE WARBLER, and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.

The long-staying BARNACLE GOOSE on Cape Island was last seen in the field across from Hidden Valley, along New England Road, on 3/18.

A NASHVILLE WARBLER was seen along the yellow trail at Cape May Point State Park on 3/14. A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was seen along 6th Avenue in West Cape May on 3/19.

A EURASIAN WIGEON and a 'EURASIAN' GREEN-WINGED TEAL were observed at Brig/Forsythe NWR on 3/15.

A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at the end of Miami Avenue in the Villas on 3/16. 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue at Ponderlodge/Villas WMA this week.

New arrivals this week included BLUE-WINGED TEAL at The Beanery/Rea Farm on 3/14, 6 PURPLE MARTINS in Cape May Point on 3/15, and BARN SWALLOWS at Turkey Point and Brig/Forsythe NWR on 3/16. Cape May's first SNOWY EGRET was seen at Lily Lake on 3/20.

RED-NECKED GREBES were seen from Cape May Point State Park and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry on 3/15.

A COMMON EIDER was seen from Stone Harbor Point on 3/15. CANVASBACKS were noted this week in Cape May Point and Heislerville.

2 SHORT-EARED OWLS continued at Jake's Landing through 3/17; 1 was seen at Brig/Forsythe NWR through 3/18. Large numbers of NORTHERN GANNETS continue to be seen in the mouth of Delaware Bay this week.


ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Both CMBO Centers will be CLOSED on SUNDAY, MARCH 23 for the Easter holiday.

CMBO's Northwood Center in Cape May Point will be open 7 days a week beginning APRIL 1.

See Life Paulagics has rescheduled its pelagic trip out of Cape May to SUNDAY, APRIL 13. The boat is scheduled to leave at 6:00 AM and return around 6:00 PM. For more information, contact them at 215-234-6805 or go to their web site at http://www.paulagics.com/.

CMBO is offering a special to new and upgraded membership renewals. Join CMBO for the first time or upgrade from Individual or Family to The Hundred and receive Charley Harper's Migration Mainline- Cape May lithograph poster, valued at $50. Call either CMBO center to ask an associate about joining today!

******CMBO Bookstore hours are as follows: Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point will be closed on Tuesdays until APRIL 1. The center will be open Wednesday-Monday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Center for Research and Education on Rt. 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday-Sunday, 9:30- 4:30.******


The Cape May Birding Hotline is a service of the New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory and details sightings from Cape May, Cumberland, and Atlantic Counties. Updates are made weekly. Please report sightings of rare or unusual birds to CMBO at 609-884-2736. Sponsorship for this hotline comes from the support of CMBO members and business members, and should you not be a member, we cordially invite you to join. Individual membership is $39 per year; $49 for families. You can call either center to become a member or visit. Become a member in person and you'll receive a FREE gift (in addition to member discount in the stores).

Good Luck and Good Birding!